ISLAMABAD: Women and children friendly centres in earthquake affected villages of Sang Kikri and Nakka in Mirpur Azad Kashmir were established by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal, Chairman NDMA has inaugurated the centers. First Secretary from Australian High Commission in Pakistan, Anna Dyason, Sobiya Kamal, Parliamentary Secretary for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Noreen Farooq Ibrahim, MNA, former Prime Minister of AJ&K Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary and representatives from Government of Azad Kashmir also participated in the inauguration ceremony.
Chairman NDMA, Lt General Muhammad Afzal while addressing the gathering at the occasion reassured to support of the Government of Pakistan and NDMA and said that we are standing with the earthquake affected people till the time last victim is settled in his own house. He informed the people that survey of the damaged houses and infrastructure has been completed and monetary compensation will be dispensed among the victims in due course of time.
Anna Dyason appreciated the NDMA, Azad Kashmir Social Welfare Department and Development partners for conception and execution of such a great ideas of establishing centers for earthquake affected women and children. She also assured Australian Government’s support in future as well.
In the first phase two Women and Children Friendly Centers are established at Sang Kikri and Nakka villages, while two more centers will be established in one month time. These centers are established with the Cooperation of UNICEF, UNWFP and Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan. The centers will provide socio-psychological support to the vulnerable segments of the society in particular the children and women who were affected by earthquake in September this year. Full time trained psychologists are hired in these centers to provide essential support and assistance to the earthquake affectees. These centers will work under the administrative control of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Social Welfare Department while NDMA will provide all financial support for operational costs.
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